The purchase of videocaster Blip.tv by YouTube network Maker Studios – announced this morning – may signal another step in the evolution of Google’s online video giant. That’s because the Time Warner- and venture capital-backed Maker could offer YouTube real competition for some audiences.

A new study commissioned by AOL claims that short-form video advertising (ads that play during webisodes, cat videos, short interviews, etc.) is more effective than long-form advertising (ads that play throughout TV shows, movies, etc. or videos longer than 10 minutes).

Conway’s latest viral video, which he describes as a “gift to San Francisco,” is already making its rounds on the Internet. It’s not surprising, given that the stars of the new video boast a combined 4.2 million Twitter followers.

While everyone is trying to predict which video sharing app will be the true “Instagram for video,” the massive surge in popularity for video apps could also become a problem for the online video mainstay YouTube.

Popular video-sharing site Vimeo is entering a new era. Already this year, a new CEO has taken the reins, the company has drastically redesigned its main site, and it has launched a wide array of mobile apps to bring more mobile users into the fold.

Because a shaky hand or bad lighting shouldn’t get between you and a viral masterpiece, YouTube is swooping in to the rescue with a new video editing option that will auto correct-away your beginner mistakes.

The top two online-video sites in China, Youku and Tudou, are merging into one super-company that will be called Youku Tudou Inc. The YouTube-esque companies are traded on the NADSAQ as YOKU and TUDO, and will retain separate brand identities.

Online meeting service MeetingBurner has launched out of beta with free meetings for up to 15 people, paid meeting options for up to 1,000 people, and mobile support, the company announced this morning.

Online video startup Brightcove has set the price range for its initial public offering at $10 to $12 a share and could raise up to $60 million, according to its latest S-1 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Although Yahoo is in turmoil after the ouster of CEO Carol Bartz, the company is still continuing to release digital products and trying to innovate. The company on Tuesday launched a new video site called Yahoo Screen that it will use to launch eight new original web shows and polish its overall video offerings.

That was fast. Only a day after automated video editing service Magisto announced it had received $5.5 million in second-round funding, YouTube has integrated the service into its offerings. YouTube took the opportunity to announce that it has removed the 15-minute limit from verified user videos and added a 2D-to-3D beta tool.

Video e-commerce startup Joyus announced Monday that it has raised $7.9 million in a bid to make video a more powerful tool in online commerce. Along with the funding announcement, the company’s site opens today for an invite-only public beta with a focus on high-end women’s products.